Future of Africa invests in high school and university students to become compassionate changemakers through hands-on experiences in street outreach, delivering meals, first-aid, and emotional support to youth living on the streets.
The issue of millions of children living on the streets across Africa can be solved if we address the systemic root cause: failed leadership. Our current leaders have neglected their responsibility to protect and care for the most vulnerable, making it critical for the next generation to drive real change.
At Future of Africa, we are mentoring high school and university students to develop the courage and excellence needed to create that change. Our Service and Street Outreach Program (SSO) is designed to train students to become the leaders Africa deserves—leaders who won’t ignore social problems, but instead, will think critically and act with compassion to solve them.
Through street outreach, leadership workshops, and reflections, we immerse these students—our FOA Leaders—into the reality of children and youth living in street situations. Every week, FOA leaders connect with street children, offering food, first aid, and more importantly, a listening ear and genuine care. These regular interactions build deep, meaningful relationships, and our leaders gain a firsthand understanding of the struggles street children face, giving them a unique opportunity to be part of the solution.
This year, Future of Africa has welcomed 37 students into SSO and here are some of their lessons and experiences they have taken away from their time with us.
Sedem Attandoh – New Nations School, Grade 11
My journey as an FOA leader has been amazing. The conversations I have had with the street residents are very interesting and insightful as well. One thing I learnt about myself was that I was oblivious to a very serious problem that we have on our hands in terms of streetism but now I’m determined and willing to try drive some sort of positive change whenever I can. After this period of volunteering, I've grown a lot in confidence, and this boost will definitely help me socially and in any future volunteer work I decide to do. I now feel equipped to take on leadership roles that can contribute to meaningful change.
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I look forward to Sundays because I know my friends from FOA will come and visit me
Nana Nhyira Asante-Ampadu – New Nations School, Grade 11
My experience has been eye-opening and fun. I enjoyed talking to both the street and Norviwo residents and listening to their life stories and sharing in their interests. It helped me build a great friendship with a lot of them. As a leader, I was responsible for organizing interactive activities for the street children in the Wellness Wednesday program, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment whenever those activities went well. One thing I learnt about myself was that I wasn't very compassionate or understanding with people I didn’t know. I've taken that to heart and decided to make a change—I'm now committed to being more caring in all my interactions, no matter who I encounter.
Nathalie Owusu-Ansah – New Nations School, Grade 12
I learnt a lot about myself during my leadership training at FOA. I learnt that I am the future of Africa and that I can change my world for the better. I also learnt that I need to speak up more and not be shy. One important lesson I am taking from this experience is to not be judgmental because you do not know what someone has been through or is going through. Another lesson is to be more empathetic towards others rather than being sympathetic or apathetic and to be compassionate always. Lastly, I learnt that I need to love myself in order to love others.
Jospeh Eshun – Galaxy International School, Grade 12
Being an FOA leader has been a profoundly transformative experience that has re-shaped my understanding of compassion and empathy. I spent my summer vacation at FOA, where my role changed from assisting with daily tasks to organizing educational activities on topics like resource management for street residents. I felt very accomplished upon leading the session on resource management and since the residents’ feedback was good, and I noticed my lesson conveyed a positive message and impacted their lives.
Each day was exciting since I got to work with some of my friends and more importantly, meet my favorite street resident, Alex. The lessons I have learnt have also been significant. I got to learn more about others and the struggles street children face every day. This has taught me to appreciate life to the very core. No matter the circumstance, the gift of life itself is more than a blessing. Their laughter, stories and spirits taught me lessons about gratitude and perspective. Their capacity to find joy and solace in very little things was very astonishing for me. I have learnt more about myself and the capacity I have to help others wherever I find myself. FOA has helped me discover a part of myself that I was not aware of.
Angela Tagoe, - Galaxy International School, Grade 12
My time spent volunteering at Future of Africa will be an experience I will never forget. FOA to me, is a community of warm and welcoming staff, bubbly residents and compassionate volunteers eager to change the world. FOA welcomed me into a world vastly different from my own, exposing me to the harsh realities faced by street children in Accra. This experience not only shaped my perspective on social issues but also highlighted the importance of community involvement. Each day was a learning opportunity, which I found exciting. I especially enjoyed Wednesdays, known as Wellness Wednesdays, where I connected with street residents on a deeper level and heard their heartwarming stories. While these days were often chaotic, they were also incredibly insightful. Through this experience, I discovered that I'm more compassionate and have a stronger desire to help others than I realized. Volunteering at FOA deepened my empathy and taught me the value of listening, relating, and collaborating with others.
Esther Ampo - University of Ghana, Junior
FOA has instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility and the importance of love. The tasks I’ve been assigned have empowered me to take initiative and make decisions in areas of my life where I previously hesitated. The emphasis on love at FOA has shown me that it's the foundation of any meaningful change. The genuine care and compassion among staff, residents and volunteers, has inspired me to carry this love with me wherever I go. This experience has given me a strong sense of purpose and equipped me to help drive positive change in the world.
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I used to think it was normal for children to live on the streets, but joining FOA opened my eyes to the harsh reality that this is a serious social problem demanding urgent attention. Now, I am confident that I can play a significant role in addressing and solving this issue
Victoria Pokuah Agyei - University of Ghana, Junior
My time at FOA has been a transformative experience, filled with excitement and personal growth. I've discovered that I can lead, make decisions confidently, and drive positive change. This experience has shown me that I'm capable of making a real impact in others' lives, and it's given me the confidence to trust myself as a leader. I've learned to be more patient, loving, and forgiving, and I’m committed to carrying these lessons forward to create positive change wherever I can. My experience has been invaluable because FOA has also allowed me to better understand the theoretical lessons I have been taught in my social work courses in school. My journey as an FOA leader has not only deepened my compassion and sense of community but has also prepared me to be a leader who can inspire and enact meaningful change.
Winimi Adarugu - New Nations School, Grade 11
Working with FOA has been nothing short of amazing. I had so much fun and many meaningful interactions with street children, which greatly changed my perspective. Before, I never looked beyond their appearances, but after hearing their stories, I see them in a totally different light. I've learned the importance of understanding others because you never know what they're going through. Embracing my emotional side has helped me understand myself better, and I've learned to express myself more effectively. While I still have work to do, I'm on the right path.
Issabelle Atogiyire – New Nations School, Grade 11
Volunteering with FOA opened my eyes to the bright side of exhibiting emotions like love, empathy, and compassion. As an emotional person in a not-so-emotional world, a few people had taken advantage of me when I tried to show them love. It made me numb to certain emotions just because I was scared of being taken advantage of or being seen as weak. My coping mechanism was to build walls and make myself numb to emotions which eventually made me stone hearted. However, FOA brought me to the realization that love is a powerful tool in changing peoples lives. Seeing the smiles on the street children after interacting with them showed that despite their struggles they have hope when someone shows them love.
Kelvin Poku - University of Ghana, Sophomore
My time at FOA has been a journey of self-discovery and growth. In just a few months, I’ve learned valuable lessons about kindness, patience, and empathy. Volunteering has deepened my understanding of others' struggles and taught me to face challenges head-on. It’s given me gratitude and shown me the importance of teamwork. Taking on leadership roles has boosted my confidence and shown me that I can drive systemic change. One unforgettable experience was the Sunday outreach, where we provided food and water to street residents and taught them basic life skills. Seeing their gratitude and hope made me realize just how vital our work is and inspired me to continue making a difference wherever I go. The sense of purpose, connection, and the friendships I’ve built at FOA will always hold a special place in my heart, fueling my drive to create lasting change.